On August 19, 2023, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), unveiled “NBRI Namoh 108”, a unique variety of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) with 108 petals, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
- NBRI Namoh 108 was developed by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow(UP)-based institute of national importance which engaged in research in the classical botanical disciplines.
About NBRI Namoh 108:
i.This is the first lotus variety whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.
ii.It will be registered as the official lotus variety out of India.
iii.The name Namoh was inspired from “Om Namaha Vasudeva”. Namoh in Sanskrit translates to ‘salutations‘. The name of the variety was given by an internal committee of the NBRI.
iv.The number 108 and lotus flower are considered auspicious in Hindu religion. Therefore this combination gives an important identity to this variety.
Features:
i.The Namoh 108 blooms from March to December making it the longest-lasting among lotus varieties.
ii.Its maximum size can reach upto 10 inches in Diameter.
iii.It is rich in nutrients like amino acids, polyphenois, flavonoids, Catechins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and minerals.
iv.It can be propagated by rhizomes and through seeds and it can be grown in ponds, tanks, and pots.
Background:
The lotus was initially discovered several years back in Manipur, and kept at the institute as part of its collection of flowers and plants, on which the institute conducts research.
Release of apparel made from Lotus Fibre and Perfume ‘Frotus’
The MoST Minister also introduced apparel made from lotus fibre and perfume ‘Frotus’. The perfume is extracted from lotus flowers and was developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in collaboration with Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, UP.
- FFDC is an autonomous Body under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
Launch of Lotus Mission:
Government has also initiated the Lotus Mission after the success of Aroma Mission, which aims to promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils, thereby, increase the income of the farmers through cultivation of high value and high demand aromatic crops.
- Aroma Mission nodal agency is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in Lucknow(UP).
- Lotus Mission will be undertaken in Mission mode like the other priority schemes.
Note: Other priority schemes are National Honey and Bee Mission (NHBM), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Gokul Mission, Blue Revolution, Mission Shakti, and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) etc.
Launch of new variety of Aloe vera ‘NBRI-Nihar’
The Minister also introduced ‘NBRI-Nihar,’ a new Aloe vera variant with about 2.5 times greater gel yield compared to traditional Aloe vera. It has strong resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases.
- The Minister also unveiled ‘Herbal Cold Drops’ and ‘Herbal Anti Dandruff Hair Oil,’ crafted by Marc Laboratories, for treating common cough and cold as well as dandruff issues.
Other Launches/MoU:
i.An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CSIR-NBRI & M/s Nucleome Informatics, Hyderabad, Telangana for collaborative research on Cotton.
ii.Dr. Jitendra Singh launched herbal colors extracted from temple flower offerings, usable for various purposes including fabric dyeing.
iii.A Database of 500 Raw Drug Repositories of the CSIR-NBRI meeting Indian Pharmacopoeia Standards was unveiled.
iv.A book featuring elite rose varieties from CSIR-NBRI Garden was released.
v.CSIR-NBRI’s digital Herbarium, a National Repository of flora specimens of India, was launched to easily disseminate information among the public.
vi.Books about ‘Plant Resources of Uttar Pradesh and a Check List’ and an ‘e-flora of Uttar Pradesh’ were presented.
- Both provides a list and information of more than 5,000 plants of UP.
vii.NBRI-Goutout supplement for gout/gouty arthritis and a nutri-bar for high-altitude army personnel were introduced.
viii.Dr. Jitendra Singh attended a six-day NBRI event from August 14 to 19, 2023 showcasing research, products, and expertise to stakeholders.
Recent Related News:
i.The “Cannabis Research Project” of the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research–Indian Institute Of Integrative Medicine (CSIR–IIIM) in Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is the first of its kind Cannabis Medicine Project in India under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a IndusCann Limited, headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
ii.On 19th July 2023, the Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with OneWeb, a London-based Company, and Gujarat Government’s Department of Science and Technology, for setting up India’s First Private ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’ in Gujarat.
About CSIR– National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI):
It is an institute of National Importance under CSIR.
Director – Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Science & Technlogy(MoST)
Location– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
